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Why mental health and wellness matter

Mental illnesses and problems do not discriminate. They affect 1 in 5 Canadians in any given year – regardless of age, background, or geographical location. But mental health is more than the absence of illness - Just like physical health it is a resource that gives us the capacity to enjoy life and deal with challenges.

What the Mental Health Commission of Canada doing

The MHCC has been working to bring people with lived experience, caregivers, and healthcare providers together to accelerate change. We have created easy-to-use tools, guidelines, and youth-focused engagement resources that help everyone do their part to better understand mental illness and to use this understanding to bring about positive action.

HEADSTRONG, Youth Summit is an evidence-based anti-stigma initiative. It inspires youth ages 12-18 to Be Brave, Reach Out and Speak Up about mental health. Check our events for places and dates of planned summits. To host one in your community, contact your Member of Parliament and tell them that you want a HEADSTRONG summit in your riding or download our toolkit.

Guidelines for Recovery-Oriented Practice were developed hand and hand with people living with mental health problems and illnesses to guide healthcare providers and program managers change the way they practice health care in Canada. Recovery oriented approaches offer hope, are empowering, and engage the individual as a full partner in their journey toward wellbeing.

Caregivers are critical to recovery of people living with mental health problems. Tools and resources have been developed to support caregivers, whether relatives or people drawn from broader circles.

Mental health and wellness of people as they age: As people live longer, our approach to mental health must account for changing needs. The MHCC has developed Guidelines for Comprehensive Mental Health Services for Older Adults in Canada. This is a resource for policy makers and service providers in planning, developing, and implementing an integrated system of mental health services that responds to the unique needs of an aging population.

Suicide Prevention: Every day, 10 people in Canada die by suicide. The MHCC is working to build capacity across the country to address this silent crisis. From grass-roots projects to evidence-informed training, reducing suicides means empowering and supporting people to effectively intervene where they live and work.

e-Mental Health: People in Canada often find it difficult to access mental health services. The MHCC is advancing research to guide the development of solid and effective e-Mental health services, which use the Internet and related technologies, like phone apps, to let clients of mental health services receive care when and where they need it most, regardless of how close they live to their care provider.